"The CMO and CIO increasingly have to partner to tackle shared objectives," Resource/Ammirati CEO Kelly Mooney told the publication. "We think that with our combined talent and expertise and offerings, (we're) really going to be a great partner for CMOs and CIOs together."

An IBM spokeswoman said Resource/Ammirati "will continue to operate in Columbus."

Resource was founded by Nancy Kramer in 1981 with Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) as its first client.

IBM Interactive Experience, dubbed IBM iX, is a global digital agency that provides next-generation services to clients – like consumer apps for the Apple Watch. According to the press release, its team of specialists work side-by-side with clients, including Air Canada, Boston Children’s Hospital, Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) and Staples Inc. (NASDAQ:SPLS) across some 24 global IBM Studios to co-create innovations.

“We see in IBM iX a reflection of Resource/Ammirati’s own mission to use creativity, technology and collaboration to make anything possible for our clients,” Kramer said in the companies' press release. “Our associates and clients will all benefit from IBM’s global reach and resources, including access to additional strategic, design and development talent as well as powerful analytics and technology expertise in cloud, mobile development and systems integration. Additionally, IBM’s legacy of progressive, associate-centric practices is a perfect match for our company’s culture.”